Related: A Story of Value - Part One
The conditions upon which my purchase would depend were clear, and I could see the saleswoman was carefully weighing her options. She dug deep, handed me an offer I just could not refuse, and I left the store minutes later with the immersion blender for less than half of the original 'sale' price... along with a pair of black shoes for SJ (but that's a different story altogether ;) ).
Sitting here now - many burgers, cutlets, bowls of hummus and cashew butter later - I believe I have received my money's worth many times over. And the blender? Still going strong.
But that is not the real point. :-O
How do we determine value?
In this case, the saleswoman was more or less concerned with the declining market value of a faulty item sitting on the shelf. I, on the other hand, was concerned with personal value... how much benefit I could derive for as small a figure as possible. The blender was valuable to me, however, only because of who I knew.
The 'connection factor' can be a vital part of determining value, and this is especially true when we are talking about the Christian life.
In God's eyes, each individual is valuable, not because of popular vote or market share, but rather, because of who he can become in the hands of Christ...
In Christ, the possibilities are endless. At His feet, His Word uplifts and liberates (Jn. 8:32). In His strength, we can do all things (Phil. 4:13)... always for His glory.
But this is not just about us. It is about the other people on the periphery who bicker, and goad, and nitpick, and irritate, and annoy, and tear down rather than build up.
Yes.. this is about them too.
Do we see them the way they are? Or as they can/will become... in Christ? As God sees them?
Have our things (possessions, ideas, agendas) become more important to us than the people Christ died to redeem?
Are we more concerned with the popular vote (the world's value system) than we are with Divine perspective?
Today, pause with me to reflect on priorities.
I want my priorities to be divinely-ordered, to reflect the very truth I profess to believe. That people are more important than things. That I value what my Father values. That Who I know makes a difference to the value I place on others... and myself.
What say you?
Blessings,
The conditions upon which my purchase would depend were clear, and I could see the saleswoman was carefully weighing her options. She dug deep, handed me an offer I just could not refuse, and I left the store minutes later with the immersion blender for less than half of the original 'sale' price... along with a pair of black shoes for SJ (but that's a different story altogether ;) ).
Sitting here now - many burgers, cutlets, bowls of hummus and cashew butter later - I believe I have received my money's worth many times over. And the blender? Still going strong.
But that is not the real point. :-O
How do we determine value?
In this case, the saleswoman was more or less concerned with the declining market value of a faulty item sitting on the shelf. I, on the other hand, was concerned with personal value... how much benefit I could derive for as small a figure as possible. The blender was valuable to me, however, only because of who I knew.
The 'connection factor' can be a vital part of determining value, and this is especially true when we are talking about the Christian life.
In God's eyes, each individual is valuable, not because of popular vote or market share, but rather, because of who he can become in the hands of Christ...
Connection is everything!
The soul that God has created and Christ has redeemed is of great value because of the possibilities before it, the spiritual advantages that have been granted it, the capabilities that it may possess if vitalized by the word of God, and the immortality it may gain through the hope presented in the gospel. - The Acts of the Apostles, p. 370
In Christ, the possibilities are endless. At His feet, His Word uplifts and liberates (Jn. 8:32). In His strength, we can do all things (Phil. 4:13)... always for His glory.
But this is not just about us. It is about the other people on the periphery who bicker, and goad, and nitpick, and irritate, and annoy, and tear down rather than build up.
Yes.. this is about them too.
Do we see them the way they are? Or as they can/will become... in Christ? As God sees them?
Have our things (possessions, ideas, agendas) become more important to us than the people Christ died to redeem?
Are we more concerned with the popular vote (the world's value system) than we are with Divine perspective?
Today, pause with me to reflect on priorities.
I want my priorities to be divinely-ordered, to reflect the very truth I profess to believe. That people are more important than things. That I value what my Father values. That Who I know makes a difference to the value I place on others... and myself.
What say you?
Blessings,
3 lovely comment(s):
I say, AMEN sister! Awesmome post. I'm reflecting with you! With that, I'm off the computer ;O) Thank you.
Thank you for sharing. It was worth the wait. ;0) Amen!!
Good one.
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